Lakewood, NJ - Arrest Made In Lakewood Stabbing Of Jewish Man, Currently Being Considered A “Random” Attack

Lakewood, NJ - A 47 year old Lakewood man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after stabbing an Orthodox Jewish resident repeatedly in the township’s municipal building this morning.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said that Reginald Patillo stabbed his victim multiple times in the head and neck as he entered an elevator on the second floor of the Lakewood Township Municipal Building.

Workers in the building sounded an alarm and at least one responding police officer was punched by Patillo, as previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2WQZhUn).

In addition to the attempted murder charges, Patillo was also charged with aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon.

Billhimer issued a reminder to the public and the media that defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Bryan Huntenberg, a spokesperson for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office told VIN News that the attack appeared to be random and that the two men did not know each other. Huntenberg said that he was not aware of Patillo having a prior arrest record.

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Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles was not immediately available to comment on the matter.